Vinny Castilla Soria was born on July 4, 1967, in Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico. Castilla was a major league third baseman who both batted and threw right-handed. The Atlanta Braves purchased Vinny in March 1990 from Saltillo (Mexican League) and was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 1, 1991, with the Braves. Castilla played with the Braves from 1991-1992 and 2002-2003, the Colorado Rockies from 1993-1999, 2004 and 2006, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2000-2001, the Houston Astros in 2001, the Washington Nationals in 2005 and the San Diego Padres in 2006. Castilla decided to retire after the Caribbean Series on February 7. 2007. Castilla was a member of the inaugural Colorado Rockies team that joined Major League Baseball in 1993 and he helped lead the Rockies to their only playoffs appearance in 1995. Castilla saw his best years while wearing a Colorado uniform. Castilla was a National League All-Star in 1995 and 1998 and a three time Silver Slugger award winner in 1995, 1997 and 1998. Vinny led the National League is RBIs in 2004 and led the league in games played (162) in 1998. Castilla joined teammates Andrés Galarraga and Ellis Burks as just the second trio of 40-homer teammates in Major League Baseball history in 1996 and that same year he joined Galarraga, Burks and Danta Bichette as only the third 100-RBI team-quartet in Major League history. Castilla hit his 300th career home run in 2005 while playing for the Washington Nationals.

Braves Career Highlights

Vinny posted a .254 batting average with 34 homeruns and 138 RBI in 312 games with the Braves.